Dual function sheet feeder

Abstract

A modular dual function sheet feeder/separator system for an electronic document imaging and printing system with an electronic document imaging station, a printing engine, an externally exposed sheet stacking tray, a sheet feeder/separator for separating and feeding documents from the sheet stacking tray, and at least two selectably different sheet feeding paths for the sheets stacked in the sheet stacking tray after they are separated and initially fed, the two sheet feeding paths being a first sheet path for feeding documents to the electronic document imaging station to be electronically imaged in a first operating mode and a second sheet path for feeding sheets to the printing engine in a second operating mode, and a sheet path selector for selecting between the first and second sheet paths in response to selecting between the first and second operating modes, wherein in the first operating mode the sheet stacking tray contains documents to be electronically imaged and the documents are fed through the first sheet path to be electronically imaged, and wherein in the second mode the sheet stacking tray contains special copy sheets which are fed by the second sheet path into the printing engine to be printed. The dual mode module is preferably removably mounted to one side of the print engine at its sheet printing path level.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A dual mode sheet feeder/separator system for an electronic document imaging and printing system with an electronic document imaging station, a printing engine, an externally accessible sheet stacking tray, a sheet feeder/separator for separating and feeding documents from said sheet stacking tray, and at least two selectably different sheet feeding paths for the sheets stacked in said sheet stacking tray after they are separated and initially fed by said sheet feeder/separator operatively connecting with said sheet stacking tray, said two selectably different sheet feeding paths comprising a first sheet path for feeding documents to said electronic document imaging station to be electronically imaged in a first operating mode and a second sheet path for feeding sheets to said printing engine in a second operating mode, and a sheet path selection system for selecting between said first and second sheet paths in response to selecting between said first and second operating modes, wherein in said first operating mode said sheet stacking tray contains documents to be electronically imaged and said documents are fed through said first sheet path to be electronically imaged, and wherein in said second mode said sheet stacking tray contains special copy sheets which are fed by said second sheet path into said printing engine to be printed; wherein said first sheet path for feeding documents to said electronic document imaging station to be electronically imaged in said first operating mode further includes a return path for returning said documents to be restacked ending adjacent to said sheet stacking tray. 
     
     
       2. A dual mode sheet feeder/separator system for an electronic document imaging and printing system with an electronic document imaging station, a printing engine, an externally accessible sheet stacking tray, a sheet feeder/separator for separating and feeding documents from said sheet stacking tray, and at least two selectably different sheet feeding paths for the sheets stacked in said sheet stacking tray after they are separated and initially fed by said sheet feeder/separator operatively connecting with said sheet stacking tray, said two selectably different sheet feeding paths comprising a first sheet path for feeding documents to said electronic document imaging station to be electronically imaged in a first operating mode and a second sheet path for feeding sheets to said printing engine in a second operating mode, and a sheet path selection system for selecting between said first and second sheet paths in response to selecting between said first and second operating modes, wherein in said first operating mode said sheet stacking tray contains documents to be electronically imaged and said documents are fed through said first sheet path to be electronically imaged, and wherein in said second mode said sheet stacking tray contains special copy sheets which are fed by said second sheet path into said printing engine to be printed; wherein said said electronic document imaging station, said sheet stacking tray, said sheet feeder/separator and said first and second sheet paths comprise an integral modular unit removably mounted to said printing engine and physically communicating therewith via said second sheet path. 
     
     
       3. The dual mode sheet feeder/separator system of claim 2 wherein said electronic document imaging station is electronically connected to said printing engine to provide electronic images for printing by said printing engine. 
     
     
       4. The dual mode sheet feeder/separator system of claim 2 wherein said printing engine has an intermediate sheet printing path and said modular unit is mounted to one side of such printing engine approximately at said vertical level of said intermediate sheet printing path, at a vertical mounting level providing a convenient operator document loading level into said sheet stacking tray. 
     
     
       5. The dual mode sheet feeder/separator system of claim 3 wherein said first sheet path for feeding documents to said electronic document imaging station to be electronically imaged in said first operating mode further includes a return path for returning said documents to be restacked at or closely adjacent to said sheet stacking tray.